Man who targeted teen girls online sentenced to prison for sex crimes

A Medford man was sentenced to almost six years in prison after pleading guilty today to multiple sex crime charges related to underage girls.

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Posted Apr. 30, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Updated Apr 30, 2013 at 3:37 PM

Posted Apr. 30, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Updated Apr 30, 2013 at 3:37 PM

» Social News

A Medford man was sentenced to almost six years in prison after pleading guilty today to multiple sex crime charges related to underage girls.

Christian Alexander Sanchez, 20, made no statement during his sentencing hearing before Judge Lorenzo Mejia. Sanchez will serve 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree rape, two counts of second-degree sex abuse, a charge of second-degree online corruption of a child, and using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct — a Measure 11 charge.

"This has had a huge effect on all the victims' lives," said prosecutor Adam Peterson. "But I am confident they will all be able to move forward. This will not define them. And Mr. Sanchez is being held accountable for the crimes he committed."

Sanchez was arrested and indicted in October on allegations he met more than a dozen teen girls online, sent them explicit nude photographs, and sexually abused at least three of them. Police seized Sanchez's phone, and during an investigation found nude pictures of underage girls, along with evidence that he had sent them nude and explicit photographs of himself.

The victims were all from Southern Oregon. Most lived in Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass, and were between the ages of 13 and 16. Sanchez typically met them on social media sites, then met some of the victims in person. He also engaged in "sexting" with the underage girls, police said.

Court records listed 27 charges, including nine counts of first-degree sex abuse, four counts of third-degree sex abuse; two counts each of third-degree rape, using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and online corruption of a child; and charges of fourth-degree assault, coercion, second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree and attempted first- and second-degree sodomy, and first- and second-degree unlawful sexual penetration.

A new indictment was filed last week which reflected the plea agreement, said Sanchez' public defender Chris Missiaen.

Sanchez was sentenced to between 90 days and 70 months for the various six charges. All sentences will run concurrently, said Peterson. The 70-month sentence is tied to the Measure 11 guilty plea on using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, he said.

"That specific victim was 13-years old," Peterson said, adding Sanchez induced the victims to send the pictures, but he did not distribute the images. — Sanne Specht